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**Unregistered** · 03-10-2013, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Which means the non-scholarship kids.

which are non-scholarship? The player from RI committed last year, so probably got a scholarship of some kind.

**Unregistered** · 03-11-2013, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

which are non-scholarship? The player from RI committed last year, so probably got a scholarship of some kind.

Would had been announced with the other three players. So, yeah no scholarship.

**BWags** · 03-12-2013, 12:10 PM

You know there are plenty of good players that don't get sucked into the whole "premier" thing. There is at least one player from South County with a signed LOI at newly D-I UMass-Lowell (and another likely). So to say it's only 4 and that they only come from "premier" teams is more than a little presumptuous.

**Unregistered** · 03-12-2013, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

You know there are plenty of good players that don't get sucked into the whole "premier" thing. There is at least one player from South County with a signed LOI at newly D-I UMass-Lowell (and another likely). So to say it's only 4 and that they only come from "premier" teams is more than a little presumptuous.

I think that post said the person only "knows of 4" but I'm too lazy to go back and read it.

**BWags** · 03-12-2013, 08:50 PM

Well some said "know of" others said "know" and only from this club and not another. I'm just trying to point out that some of these team trolls and self-proclaimed experts are not seeing the whole picture if they think the the only quality players are on premier clubs.

**Unregistered** · 03-12-2013, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

Well some said "know of" others said "know" and only from this club and not another. I'm just trying to point out that some of these team trolls and self-proclaimed experts are not seeing the whole picture if they think the the only quality players are on premier clubs.

I doubt anyone thinks only premier clubs have quality players, but if your child were on a premier club, you might only know of other premier club players. If a player from South County, a club which plays mostly against premier teams, is sending a player to D1, that's great news.

Signed,

The Troll

**BWags** · 03-13-2013, 11:50 AM

Obviously my comments are not aimed at such an open-minded "troll" as yourself; however, even in my short tenure on this board it is clear that some posters exude quite the air of elitism based on their various premier affiliations.

**Unregistered** · 03-13-2013, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

You know there are plenty of good players that don't get sucked into the whole "premier" thing. There is at least one player from South County with a signed LOI at newly D-I UMass-Lowell (and another likely). So to say it's only 4 and that they only come from "premier" teams is more than a little presumptuous.

It's great that a town player makes a D1 program. Bottom line is people put their kids in premier because their kid has potential to be a better player and to be a better player you need to play with better players and better competition. Not sure that SC is playing premier teams all the time. Maybe indoor and if they even get accepted to a tournament. I havent seen any SC teams in Maple and I know they can't be in NEP. People in SC are sheltered and you are missing out on the experience of playing premier on a club that plays very good competition and that has very good players from all over the state. I have seen some very good SC players but most never make the move to play at a higher level and as they get older they get lost in the shuffle. Every once in a while one makes it out of 100.

There are some clubs in RI that shouldn't be considered premier and probably aren't better than SC.

**BWags** · 03-13-2013, 09:35 PM

Frankly, there are a lot of premier clubs that shouldn't be considered premier and put teams on the field just to accommodate people willing to write an obscenely large check.

I was steered away from premier several years ago by a HS coach who was/is in fact a premier coach. That person said that the whole system is so watered down that it's no longer worth the money and that I should concentrate on finding a good coach and save my money. I know more people that have returned to town clubs completely dissatisfied with their premier experience than I do people who say that the loved the experience.

My daughter didn't have to travel hours and hours for practice and games, played with her friends, didn't have to deal with egos infighting and awful team chemistry, found a great coach, took advantage of outside training opportunities like ODP, played other sports in the off season for cross conditioning and to avoid repetitive stress injuries, worked hard, had fun and, most importantly, still loves the game. I don't care how talented you are you'll never be at your best if you don't love the game and have fun playing it.

Can premier help - yes. Are there some excellent programs - yes. Is it the only way to give a kid the opportunity to compete after HS - not by a long shot.

**Unregistered** · 03-14-2013, 06:14 AM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

Frankly, there are a lot of premier clubs that shouldn't be considered premier and put teams on the field just to accommodate people willing to write an obscenely large check.

I was steered away from premier several years ago by a HS coach who was/is in fact a premier coach. That person said that the whole system is so watered down that it's no longer worth the money and that I should concentrate on finding a good coach and save my money. I know more people that have returned to town clubs completely dissatisfied with their premier experience than I do people who say that the loved the experience.

My daughter didn't have to travel hours and hours for practice and games, played with her friends, didn't have to deal with egos infighting and awful team chemistry, found a great coach, took advantage of outside training opportunities like ODP, played other sports in the off season for cross conditioning and to avoid repetitive stress injuries, worked hard, had fun and, most importantly, still loves the game. I don't care how talented you are you'll never be at your best if you don't love the game and have fun playing it.

Can premier help - yes. Are there some excellent programs - yes. Is it the only way to give a kid the opportunity to compete after HS - not by a long shot.

If you are still referring to the South County player that signed with UMass Lowell, then it sounds like ODP was probably a factor in her ability to go to D2 (now D1) college soccer?

**BWags** · 03-14-2013, 07:44 AM

Sure, ODP helped - the one year that she did it after she decided that she wanted to continue playing in college. I wish RI's ODP program would continue the 1995 age bracket so my daughter could do it for another year. Anytime you have the opportunity to train with someone new you should take advantage of it. You never know what you might learn from someone with a slightly different approach. Be open to new ideas, take the different things that every coach tells you, find what works for you and make it your own.

That being said I spoke to many ODP parents from RI and elsewhere who all say that premier coaches are telling players to stay away from ODP and just train with their clubs 24/7/365. Given the number of excellent players that I know in my daughter's age group that played premier and not ODP, there must be some truth to what these parents are saying. This: (a) is stupid - see my comment above; and (b) means that the quality of play at ODP is not what it could be or should be.

**Unregistered** · 03-14-2013, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

If you are still referring to the South County player that signed with UMass Lowell, then it sounds like ODP was probably a factor in her ability to go to D2 (now D1) college soccer?

Sure, and so did her first grade gym teacher. The fact of the matter is that South County teams typically play more than half their schedules against premier teams, have the URI Womans coaching staff (who by the way have been terrific) as professional trainers, and at U15 and above have no limitations that other premier teams don't have. While there may be leagues that the South County teams don't play in, they are welcome in nearly any tournament they apply to.

**Unregistered** · 03-14-2013, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

Sure, ODP helped - the one year that she did it after she decided that she wanted to continue playing in college. I wish RI's ODP program would continue the 1995 age bracket so my daughter could do it for another year. Anytime you have the opportunity to train with someone new you should take advantage of it. You never know what you might learn from someone with a slightly different approach. Be open to new ideas, take the different things that every coach tells you, find what works for you and make it your own.

That being said I spoke to many ODP parents from RI and elsewhere who all say that premier coaches are telling players to stay away from ODP and just train with their clubs 24/7/365. Given the number of excellent players that I know in my daughter's age group that played premier and not ODP, there must be some truth to what these parents are saying. This: (a) is stupid - see my comment above; and (b) means that the quality of play at ODP is not what it could be or should be.

That's false or at least not all premier teams. Bayside has told their players to try out and play ODP and I know that in the girls program there are at least 25 girls and maybe more from Bayside in all different age groups this year. Bayside also has at least three coaches on the ODP staff.

Be careful with how you state things and get the facts before you post.

**Unregistered** · 03-14-2013, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Sure, and so did her first grade gym teacher. The fact of the matter is that South County teams typically play more than half their schedules against premier teams, have the URI Womans coaching staff (who by the way have been terrific) as professional trainers, and at U15 and above have no limitations that other premier teams don't have. While there may be leagues that the South County teams don't play in, they are welcome in nearly any tournament they apply to.

Yes, in the lower brackets and they will never get in a high bracket of a good tournament. Very good town program but don't make it out to be more than it is!

**Unregistered** · 03-14-2013, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by BWags View Post

Sure, ODP helped - That being said I spoke to many ODP parents from RI and elsewhere who all say that premier coaches are telling players to stay away from ODP and just train with their clubs 24/7/365.

Never heard of such a thing. Unless you are in the ECNL, you should definitely be playing ODP. 10 out of 10 premier coaches agree.